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Sister Mary Petronilla Coss, RSM

Sr. Mary Petronilla Coss, RSM who lived at McAuley Convent in Barling, Arkansas died Monday, November 16, 2009. She was born in 1908 in County Laoise, Ireland and taught by the Sisters of Mercy. She accepted an invitation from the Sisters of Mercy visiting Ireland to minister in the missionary area of the Diocese of Little Rock, Arkansas. She attended Mount St. Mary Academy in Little Rock, entered the Sisters of Mercy in 1928 and made her final vows in 1932. After earning her teaching certificate, she began a 53 year career as a teacher. Her first job as a teacher was at St. Patrick School in North Little Rock, Arkansas. She also served as the Principal at St. Patrick’s Immaculate Conception and Our Lady of Good Counsel in Little Rock as well as St. John’s in Hot Springs.

During her time of teaching she took a three year leave to serve on the St. Louis Regional Leadership Team. She retired in 1985 but still tutored student and maintained the chronicles and scrapbook for St. Patrick’s in North Little Rock.

She retired to McAuley Convent in Barling, Arkansas in September of 2002. Sister Petronilla would have celebrated her 101st birthday on November 23rd, 2009. Sr. Petronilla leaves behind these words for those lives she touched throughout her life: “I can truly say that all the dreams of my youth in Ireland of being a foreign missionary have been fulfilled, and I have been richly blessed during my retirement years to have peace, good health, and fond memories of teaching, guiding, and directing my students in reaching their own life goals. A hundred fold in this life and life everlasting in the next has been my bountiful reward”!
Sister M. Petronilla Coss is survived by several nieces and nephews in Ireland and the United States.

Rosary will be 9:30 AM on Friday, November 20, 2009 at McAuley Convent Chapel in Barling, Arkansas. Funeral will follow at 10:30 AM at McAuley Convent Chapel with burial at Calvary Cemetery in Little Rock, Arkansas at 3:30 PM on Friday, November 20, 2009. Arrangements are under the direction of Fentress Mortuary of Fort Smith